PODCAST: Genre Filmmaking – Why Horror, Sci-Fi, and Thriller Films Create The Perfect Launch Pad For Micro-Budget Feature Filmmakers

In this solo episode, I share my in-depth thoughts on the merits of working in genre as a micro-budget filmmaker, and why horror, sci-fi, and thriller films often thrive on a smaller scale. Genre films offer some unique advantages to the micro-budget filmmaker, that make traditional obstacles (like securing name talent, prestige festival placement,...

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PODCAST: From Crowdfunding a Teaser To Selling Out Theatrical Screenings With Co-Directors John C. Lyons and Dorota Swies

Joining me for this episode are co-directors John C. Lyons and Dorota Swies, here to talk all about their brand new feature film Unearth. Unearth is a “fracking horror film” that was produced over the course of 8 years. What began as a successful crowdfunding campaign for a teaser, ultimately helped secure financing of nearly $1,000,000 for the...

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PODCAST: Filmmaker & Slamdance Co-Founder Dan Mirvish On Landing Fundraising, Securing Actors, Navigating Festivals, And Making An Impact With Your Indie Film

In this episode, I share a recent conversation with filmmaker and Slamdance co-founder Dan Mirvish, which originally took place during a private live session in The Backlot (my filmmaking community). Throughout our discussion, Dan offers a masterclass in the practical realities of making a film. We discuss strategies for raising funds for your...

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PODCAST: How To Reverse Engineer Your Indie Feature With “Around The Sun” Writer/Producer Jonathan Kiefer

In this episode I’m joined by writer and producer Jonathan Kiefer, whose feature film Around The Sun premiered last month on Kanopy, and is now widely available on digital platforms everywhere. Around The Sun is an amazing example of what’s possible when you use available resources to reverse engineer a film concept. In Jonathan’s case, he had...

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The Paradox of Making a “Profitable” Indie Film

How likely is it for an indie film to become profitable? Statistically speaking, the picture is quite bleak – 97% of independent feature films fail to turn a profit. Most filmmakers assume they will be in the lucky 3%, not realizing that turning a real profit with a low/micro-budget film is practically unheard of.After all, the most common ingredients...

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The Magic Of The 1.66:1 Aspect Ratio & How I Plan To Use It On My Feature Film

To me, the 1.66:1 aspect ratio has a magical quality to it. It’s been used to frame countless iconic feature films from the 1950s to today, and some would say it’s the ultimate happy medium for capturing tight closeups, wide landscapes, and everything in between. Similar to the 4:3 aspect ratio (AKA 1.33:1), 1.66:1 has its roots in classic cinema....

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PODCAST: How To Get $25,000 + Professional Post-Production Services For Your Feature Film With Sam Mestman

My guest today is Sam Mestman, CEO of We Make Movies – an incredible resource for indie filmmakers looking to take their work to the next level. Among many of the other initiatives currently in motion at WMM, Sam is running a filmmaking competition that will award several micro-budget filmmakers a $25,000 investment, plus exclusive access to high end...

Jul 2021

Why I Wrote a 72 Page Feature Film Screenplay & Its Powerful Impact On Story Structure

Traditionally, a feature length Hollywood screenplay is supposed to be 110 – 120 pages in length. But as an independent creator, there is a case to be made for embracing a much shorter page count. For my latest feature screenplay (Shell Shock) I decided to experiment with an aggressive 72 page target, which has opened up some unique advantages....

Jul 2021

PODCAST: Director & DP Emily Skye AKA “She Wolf Films” On Blazing Your Own Path In The Film Industry

Joining me today is Director & DP Emily Skye, who you might also know as “She Wolf Films” on her incredibly popular Instagram account. Emily has been working in the film industry for 14 years, but recently her industry success has reached new heights. After building a massive fanbase for her work online, she created a short film called River. The...

Jun 2021

The 5 Best Cameras For Filmmaking In 2021 – All Under $1000

If you search “best cameras for filmmaking in 2021”, you’re likely to get overloaded with camera recommendations, often from blog posts or articles that are sponsored by camera brands. This post is not sponsored by any brand, and just represents my personal opinion as a narrative filmmaker. My goal is to help you find the best possible...

Jun 2021